Milan 1 catania 1, borriello double save milan
Marco Borriello struck a second-half brace to spare AC Milan's blushes against Catania but this afternoon's draw did little to boost the Rossoneri's flagging hopes of a first Serie A title since 2004.
Maxi Lopez gave the visitors a shock lead after 12 minutes and Adrian Ricchiuti doubled their advantage two minutes before the break to silence the San Siro.
Borriello pulled one back for Leonardo's side three minutes into the second half and then levelled matters nine minutes from time, but the draw left Milan four points behind new Serie A leaders Roma with five games remaining.
The hosts kicked off this encounter knowing victory would have put them within a point of city rivals Inter Milan, who were held to a 2-2 draw at Fiorentina last night.
It might all have gone more smoothly for Milan had Ronaldinho's far-post volley, after being fed by Ignazio Abate, flown under rather than over the bar in the second minute.
As it was, the opening goal arrived at the other end 10 minutes later.
First Ricchiuti's free-kick caught the Milan defence cold and allowed the unmarked Giuseppe Mascara a free header at goal, but Massimo Ambrosini was able to clear at the back post.
Within 60 seconds, the Sicilians were ahead, however. Ricchiuti fed a fine ball through to Lopez, who beat the offside trap and lashed a low shot across Milan goalkeeper Dida.
Ronaldinho had half a chance to restore parity after 19 minutes but Borriello's pass gave Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar chance to come off his line and clear.
Defender Nicolas Spolli came to the visitors' rescue again six minutes later, diverting the danger away for a corner after a counter-attack involving Clarence Seedorf and Ronaldinho fed Borriello in a decent position.
Borriello then saw his header from Ronaldinho's left-wing cross blocked by Andujar after 36 minutes, and seven minutes later the hosts were two down.
Lopez crossed for an unmarked Ricchiuti to nod past Dida, with the Milan defence again in disarray.
Milan set out for the second half looking like a different team and were rewarded after only three minutes.
Andrea Pirlo's long ball found Seedorf, who centred for Borriello to head past Andujar.
Catania almost restored their two-goal cushion eight minutes later when Marco Biagianti's 20-yard drive whistled just past Dida's left post, but the action soon switched back to the other end.
Ronaldinho's pass looked destined to find Klaas Jan Huntelaar but Ciro Capuano anticipated well and cleared for a corner.
Andujar was called into action after 72 minutes, saving well from Huntelaar's fierce low shot after the Dutchman had latched onto Pirlo's long cross and evaded the attentions of Mascara.
The equaliser arrived after 81 minutes and once again the hosts had Borriello to thank. Abate's cross from the right found the Italy striker, who turned well and fired a right-footed shot low into Andujar's net.
Massimo Ambrosini almost undid all Milan's good work to get back into the game when he carelessly gifted possession to Lopez and allowed the former Barcelona man a one-on-one opportunity with Dida, but his attempted lob was unsuccessful.
Milan had one final chance to take all three points when substitute Filippo Inzaghi mustered a low shot from a tight angle in stoppage time, but Andujar saved well at full stretch.
